Van Mead v. United States of America

Filing 3

ORDER Adopting Report and Recommendation denying 1 Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (2255). Signed by Chief Judge Christina Reiss on 9/25/2017. (law)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
DISTRICT OF VERMONT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
TERRY VAN MEAD

)
)
)
)
)

2811 SEP 25 PH 3: 18

Case No. 5:11-cr-87

OPINION AND ORDER ADOPTING IN PART MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
(Docs. 55 & 70)
This matter came before the court for a review of the Magistrate Judge's August 2,
2017 Report and Recommendation ("R & R"). (Doc. 70.) On June 10, 2017, Defendant
Terry Van Mead, who is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven L.
Barth, filed a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 seeking a reduction of his 84-month
sentence. (Doc. 55.) Defendant argues that his sentence was calculated with reference to
the "crime of violence" residual clause of the United States Sentencing Guidelines
("U.S.S.G.") § 4B 1.2(a). The Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015) decision
pertained to the Armed Career Criminal Act's (the "ACCA") residual clause, 18 U.S.C.
§ 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), which the Supreme Court held is unconstitutionally void for vagueness
because its application "does not comport with the Constitution's guarantee of due
process." Johnson, 135 S. Ct. at 2560. The Supreme Court has since expressly refused
to expand Johnson to include the "crime of violence" residual clause in the Sentencing
Guidelines. See Beckles v. United States, 137 S. Ct. 886, 890 (2017) ("[W]e hold that the
advisory Guidelines are not subject to vagueness challenges under the Due Process
Clause"). The government opposes the motion. Neither party has filed an objection to
the R & R, and the time to do so has expired.
A district judge must make a de novo determination of those portions of a
magistrate judge's report and recommendation to which an objection is made. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 72(b); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l); Cullen v. United States, 194 F.3d 401,405 (2d Cir.
1999). The district judge may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings

or recommendations made by the magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); accord

Cullen, 194 F.3d at 405. A district judge, however, is not required to review the factual
or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge as to those portions of a report and
recommendation to which no objections are addressed. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140,
150 (1985).
In his eleven pageR & R, the Magistrate Judge carefully reviewed the factual and
procedural history of the case as well as the arguments raised in Defendant's motion.
The Magistrate Judge properly ruled that the Supreme Court's holding in Beckles
forecloses Defendant's argument that the residual clause of the Sentencing Guidelines is
unconstitutionally void for vagueness.
Based on the foregoing, the Magistrate Judge properly concluded that Defendant
failed to meet his burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence the claim
advanced in his § 225 5 motion. The court therefore does not and need not consider the
Magistrate Judge's alternative analysis which is directed to whether the motion was
timely filed.

CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the court hereby ADOPTS IN PART the Magistrate
Judge's R & R (Doc. 70), DENIES Defendant's motion to vacate, and DISMISSES
Defendant's § 2255 motion (Doc. 55).
Pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 22(b)(l) and 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), the court
DENIES Defendant a certificate of appealability in this matter because Defendant has
failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.
SO ORDERED.

'A __

;x

Dated at Burlington, in the District ofVermont, this _C_J day of September, 2017.

~~
United States District Court

2